Conservation of wild animals in Southeast Asia is a subject of considerable interest to many people. Whether animals ought to be granted moral status is itself a worthy subject. One addressed by Martha C. Nussbaum in Frontiers of Justice: Disability, Nationality, Species Membership (2006) She explores her thesis in a recent essay found in The Chronicle
Professor Nussbaum’s essay reminds me of a compelling story by an American with a mission to protect tigers in Thailand. I highly recommend Alan Rabinowitz’s Chasing the Dragon’s Trail: The Struggle to Save Thailand’s Wild Cats. I met Alan in the early 1990s when he was in Thailand doing his research. He’s a dedicated and courageous author. His book was originally published in 1992 and this edition came out in 2002.
Here’s a summary from Powell’s Bookstore:
“Based on Rabinowitz's field journals, the book offers an intimate and moving look at a modern zoologist's life in the field. As he fights floods, fire-ant infestations, elephant stampedes, and a request to marry the daughter of a tribal chief, the difficulties that come with the demanding job of species conservation are dramatically brought to life. First published in 1991, this edition of Chasing the Dragon's Tail includes a new afterword by the author that brings the story up to date, describing the surprising strides Thailand has made recently in conservation.”
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